Ontario bucket list motorcycle tour routes
Martin Lortz, Algoma Country
Whether the goal is to stand above a million-year-old gorge, sample the biggest pierogi in the province or circle the largest freshwater lake in the world, each of these bucket list stops combines great riding with an unforgettable experience. Plan one stop or string several together for a multi-day adventure.
Check road conditions and ferry schedules before heading out and gear up for some of the most memorable motorcycle touring in the country.
Stop at the Wawa Goose
One of Canada’s most recognized roadside attractions, the Wawa Canada Goose has been replaced at least three times and remains the reason so many riders pull over in this northern town.
Ride up, snap a photo and share it—it’s guaranteed to draw comments from fellow travellers. While in Wawa, make a stop at Young’s General Store down the road, famous for its pickle fudge.
Route: The Grand Algoma
Region: Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma
Related reading: Getting a recharge on the Grand Algoma
Eat Ontario’s biggest pierogi
High in Ontario’s Highlands sits the oldest Polish settlement in the province, and at its heart is the Wilno Tavern, home to pierogies roughly the size of a closed fist.
The food—from cabbage rolls to sauerkraut—is deeply satisfying, and the band nights showcase impressive local talent. It is well worth a detour on any ride through the Highlands.
Route: Ride the Highlands
Region: Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
Related reading: An epicurean rides the Highlands
Visit Kakabeka Falls
Just a 20-minute ride from Thunder Bay, Kakabeka Falls is often called the Niagara of the North.
While not as wide as Niagara Falls, the volume of water pouring over its crest per hour is impressive, and the crowds are far smaller. A bridge crosses right over the crest, and the parking area is just a two-minute walk away.
Route: Ride Lake Superior
Region: Northwest Ontario
Related reading: Five reasons to stop at Kakabeka Falls
Stand above Ouimet Canyon
Located about an hour northeast of Thunder Bay, Ouimet Canyon is a 100-metre-deep, 150-metre-wide gorge flanked by dramatic stone cliffs.
The canyon dates back a million years to the last ice age and is home to rare arctic plants normally found much farther north. A short 1.8-kilometre loop trail leads to viewing platforms perched right at the canyon’s edge.
On the way back, take the side trip to Eagle Canyon Adventures for two suspension bridges high above the canyon floor and a zip line stretching over 800 metres, one of the longest in Canada. Riders heading to or from Ouimet Canyon can also detour to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park via Highway 587, a 75-kilometre route through scenic landscape to the historic town of Silver Islet.
Route: Ride Lake Superior
Region: Northwest Ontario
Ride the Pijitawabik Palisades
Just north of Nipigon, the Pijitawabik Palisades are a billion-year-old rock formation that towers on either side of the road.
The ride through is dramatic enough to warrant a second pass. For those looking for more, a hiking trail leads 150 metres up for sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and Lake Superior.
Route: Ride Lake Superior
Region: Northwest Ontario
Related reading: Highway 11 from Nipigon to New Liskeard
Go off-road at Ganaraska Forest
The Ganaraska Forest is a multi-use wilderness area that is home to some of Ontario’s most popular off-road motorcycle trails.
Known by riders throughout the province as a welcoming and entertaining destination close to the US border, this forest is a bucket list stop for dirt and adventure bike enthusiasts. Riders who do not have their own off-road bike can link up with Trail Tours, which provides bikes, training and gear.
Route: Three motorcycle routes in the Kawarthas
Region: Kawarthas and Northumberland
Related reading: Riding the dirt trails of Ganaraska
Ride the Calabogie
One of Ontario’s most celebrated riding roads, Calabogie Road is known for its quality pavement and relentless twists and turns that roll through generous elevation changes in the hilliest part of the province. This is where many riders discover why the Ride the Highlands routes rank among Ontario’s best.
Route: Ride the Highlands
Region: Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
Related reading: Take a boogie on the Calabogie
Take the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry
The MS Chi-Cheemaun—whose name translates from Ojibwe to mean “Big Canoe”—connects riders from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island.
Motorcycles are first on and first off, and there is something memorable about pulling away from the massive front opening of this ferry and rolling onto the world’s largest freshwater island. The Chi-Cheemaun is a gateway to two major routes: the Manitoulin Island tour and the Georgian Bay Coastal Route.
Arrive at the ferry terminal at least an hour early. Depending on the season, a reservation through the Owen Sound Transportation Company may be required.
Routes: Georgian Bay Coastal Route and Manitoulin Island Tour
Regions: Bruce, Grey and Simcoe and Northeastern Ontario
Related reading: Around Georgian Bay your way
Explore Manitoulin Island
Once on Manitoulin Island, take time to explore. The central loop is about 200 kilometres, and you’ll want to take extra time for some of the island’s best stops.
Ride to the Cup and Saucer Nature Reserve for a hike up the Niagara Escarpment with panoramic views and stop in at one of the island’s craft breweries: Manitoulin Brewing Company in Little Current or Split Rail Brewing Co. in Gore Bay.
Home to several First Nations communities, Manitoulin offers unique cultural experiences. Visit Wikwemikong for authentic Indigenous cultural tours and land-based learning.
The island is also home to several historic lighthouses, including the Janet Head Lighthouse in Gore Bay, built in 1879. With trails, museums and welcoming communities, this is a destination worth more than a day.
Route: Manitoulin Island Tour
Region: Northeastern Ontario
Tackle Canada’s Tail of the Dragon
In the heart of Ontario’s Algoma region, Highway 129 shares its number with the famous Tail of the Dragon south of the border, but the Ontario version has far less traffic.
The road starts with long sweeping curves that gradually escalate into an aggressive series of climbs, descents and side-to-side turns. Much of the route follows rivers, lakes and cliff faces, making the scenery as rewarding as the riding.
Route: The Grand Algoma
Region: Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma
Related reading: Algoma’s Highway 129
Loop through Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario offers a series of progressively longer loops that are ideal for riders based near the Greater Toronto Area.
Starting with a relaxed 157-kilometre ride through Uxbridge and Port Perry, the loops get longer and more technical as they extend into the Kawarthas. The most adventurous option—a 470-kilometre ride through Glamorgan Road, Kashagawigamog Lake Road and Deep Bay Road—features winding cottage-country roads and the charming towns of Haliburton and Minden.
All five loops are on two-lane paved roads and feature stops for ice cream, butter tarts and small-town exploring along the way. The routes get hillier and more scenic as they extend farther from the city.
Regions: Kawarthas and Northumberland and Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
Circle Lake Superior
If there is one motorcycle route to ride in Ontario, it is Ride Lake Superior.
Spanning more than 2,200 kilometres, this route passes through Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario with dramatic changes in scenery at every stage. From lakeside sub-arctic dunes to towering red soil cliffs—all framed by the expanse of the world’s largest freshwater lake—this is a ride that deserves at least a week.
Route: Ride Lake Superior
Regions: Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma and Northwest Ontario
Related reading: The Lake Superior circle tour
From the remote canyons and ferry crossings of the north to the rolling loops of Southern Ontario, these bucket list experiences go well beyond the road itself.
Last updated: February 25, 2026